Ants Marching is very much their whole deal for the first couple of albums, but I think they grew a bit more…I don’t want to use dark or gritty…but more substantial with Before These Crowded Streets and much of the albums beyond that. But that buoyant jazzy sound mostly left them after Crash. Some flashes of it from a song or two. They became much more of a rock band.

Before These Crowded Streets being crafted so much in the studio is just such a different animal than its predecessors, it is 'bigger' on many levels and wonderfully produced. Not that the previous two albums aren't produced well I just feel Lillywhite's propensity to push toward grandeur really synced with a band on the rise after a few comfortable albums together. The mire of the Dave Matthews Band's relationship with producers and studio output from the Lillywhite Sessions onward is really something to behold.

Nevertheless, they’ve still had some very solid albums that get buried by their live reputation.

The live entity is also quite the examination over the last thirty years.

I adore many of the albums and have come to respect many other tracks, along with the band's musicianship and ability to be a cohesive touring act, through their live renditions. Idunno, I lived with this band for quite a while and these days just gets me thinking about a long journey.

USA for Africa

ants marching makes sense. even today most of their songs are born from dave matthews and his acoustic guitar. they definitely got darker with later albums and heavier, especially live.